Door security device

Abstract

In combination with a door, a door jamb and a latch bolt, a door security device for preventing the jimmying of a door latch bolt comprising a strike plate; a barrier plate comprising a base portion, a barrier portion and a hinge providing mechanical connection between said base portion and said barrier portion, the barrier plate designed and configured to conform to and fill the gap formed between the door and the door jamb upon closing the door into the door jamb; and one or more fasteners for installing the door security device into the door jamb.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. In combination with a door, a door jamb and a latch bolt, a door security device for preventing the jimmying of a door lock, the device comprising:
 (a) a strike plate, said strike plate comprising a striking edge, a pass-through slot, said pass-through slot being an aperture fully enclosed by and passing-through said strike plate, one or more fastener holes, and a latch receiver, said latch receiver disposed between said striking edge and said pass-through slot; 
 (b) a barrier plate having a top end and a bottom end, said barrier plate comprising:
 (i) a planar base portion; 
 (ii) a planar barrier portion configured to prevent access of a jimmy to said latch bolt; and 
 (iii) a hinge providing mechanical connection between said planar base portion and said planar barrier portion, and positioning said planar barrier portion in a generally perpendicular orientation with respect to said planar base portion; 
 said planar barrier portion configured to conform to and fill the gap formed between said door and said door jamb upon closing said door; and 
 
 (c) one or more fasteners; 
 said door security device assembled and installed such that said one or more fasteners mechanically fasten said strike plate to said door jamb; thereby mechanically capturing said planar base portion between the edge of said door and said strike plate with said planar barrier portion protruding through said pass-through slot of said strike plate. 
 
     
     
       2. The door security device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a first notch formed into the top end of said planar barrier portion, and a second notch formed into the bottom end of said planar barrier portion, said first and second notches configured to prevent access of a jimmy to said latch bolt. 
     
     
       3. The door security device according to  claim 1 , wherein said hinge is flexible. 
     
     
       4. The door security device according to  claim 1 , wherein said hinge is resilient. 
     
     
       5. The door security device according to  claim 1 , wherein the angle formed between the hinged planar base portion and planar barrier portion is in the range of about 30 degrees to 90 degrees. 
     
     
       6. The door security device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 (a) a planar top barrier mechanically attached to said planar base portion by means of a top hinge, said planar top barrier configured to prevent access of a jimmy to said latch bolt; and 
 (b) a planar bottom barrier mechanically attached to said planar base portion by means of a bottom hinge, said planar bottom barrier configured to prevent access of a jimmy to said latch bolt. 
 
     
     
       7. In combination with a door, a door jamb and a latch bolt, a method of using a door security device comprising the steps of:
 (a) obtaining a door security device comprising:
 (i) a strike plate, said strike plate comprising a striking edge, a pass-through slot, said pass-through slot being an aperture fully enclosed by and passing-through said strike plate, one or more fastener holes, and a latch receiver, said latch receiver disposed between said striking edge and said pass-through slot; 
 (ii) a barrier plate having a top end and a bottom end, said barrier plate comprising: a planar base portion; a planar barrier portion configured to prevent access of a jimmy to said latch bolt; and a hinge providing mechanical connection between said planar base portion and said planar barrier portion, and positioning said planar barrier portion in a generally perpendicular orientation with respect to said planar base portion; said barrier plate configured to conform to and fill the gap formed between said door and said door jamb upon closing said door; and 
 (iii) one or more fasteners; 
 
 (b) installing said door security device into said door jamb by means of said one or more fasteners; 
 (c) closing said door into said door jamb, thereby causing said planar barrier portion of said door security device to conform to and fill the gap formed between said door and said door jamb upon closing said door, said planar barrier portion being contained between the edge of said door and said door jamb and preventing access of a jimmy to said latch bolt. 
 
     
     
       8. In combination with a door, a door jamb and a latch bolt, a door security device for preventing the jimmying of a door lock, the device comprising:
 (a) a strike plate, said strike plate comprising a striking edge, a pass-through slot, said pass-through slot being an aperture fully enclosed by and passing-through said strike plate, one or more fastener holes, and a latch receiver, said latch receiver disposed between said striking edge and said pass-through slot; 
 (b) a barrier plate having a top end and a bottom end, said barrier plate comprising:
 (i) a planar base portion; 
 (ii) a planar barrier portion configured to prevent access of a jimmy to said latch bolt; and 
 (iii) a hinge providing mechanical connection between said planar base portion and said planar barrier portion, and positioning said planar barrier portion in a generally perpendicular orientation with respect to said planar base portion; 
 said planar barrier portion configured to conform to and fill the gap formed between said door and said door jamb upon closing said door; 
 
 (c) one or more fasteners; and 
 (d) a first notch formed into the top end of said planar barrier portion, and a second notch formed into the bottom end of said planar barrier portion, said first and second notches configured to prevent access of a jimmy to said latch bolt; 
 said door security device assembled and installed such that said one or more fasteners mechanically fasten said strike plate to said door jamb; thereby mechanically capturing said planar base portion between the edge of said door and said strike plate with said planar barrier portion protruding through said pass-through slot of said strike plate.